A pep rally and community sendoff is set for Thursday morning for Iola High’s Mustangs upcoming state tournament appearance — the first for the Mustang program since 1983. WITH ANDALE, Iola has drawn one of the toughest Class 4A-II teams in the state. THE REST OF the 4A-II bracket is loaded with talent.
The festivities kick off at about 9:40 in the high school gymnasium.
The community is invited to partake in either the pep rally or to send the players on their way, with departure set at 10:15 a.m.
School will be dismissed at 12:30, at which time a pep bus for students will depart for Park City, on the northern edge of Wichita, site of the Class 4A-II State Basketball Tournament.
Iola will take on Andale. The ball tips at 3 p.m.
Admission is $9 for adults and $8 for students.
The games will be broadcast locally on 1370 KIOL on the AM radio dial.
Online listeners also can follow along at www.iolaradio.com.
The Indians (20-2) are led by a powerful tandem of post players, 6-5 Jeff Ast and 6-4 Lane Macari.
The duo combined for 30 points and 19 rebounds in the substate championship game.
Bo Knoblauch, a 6-0 junior guard, also is capable of lighting up opponents from the outside.
“You can tell they spend a lot of time in the weight room,” Trinity coach Steve Miller told the Wichita Eagle following Saturday’s substate championship game, a 52-38 Andale victory. “They’re so athletic and quick and strong.”
The Indians finished third in Class 4A in last season’s state tournament and are the top-ranked 4A-II team this season.
Scott City (19-3) moved up to 4A-II after winning the previous three state titles at Class 3A. Despite losing several talented seniors, guard Trey O’Neil is back to headline another stellar squad. The Beavers face off against Pratt (11-11) on Thursday.
Concordia (18-4) also could be considered a favorite, and features a pair of familiar names on its roster. Grant Holmes, a senior, averages 20.3 points per game, while younger brother, Cooper, a sophomore, is even more prolific, averaging 23.7 points per game.
They are the children of former IHS head basketball coach Derek Holmes. Derek Holmes is the principal at Concordia Middle School and an assistant coach for the Panthers. He coached at Iola from 1999 through 2003.
Concordia faces Girard (12-10) in its opening game.
Holton (17-5) is led by a pair of 6-1 junior guards, Garett Beecher (17.1 points per game) and Trey Tankin (15.3). The Cobras face Eudora (17-5), which features a number of talented scorers, including brothers Andrew and Mitchell Ballock and Austin Downing.
IHS Mustang state sendoff is Thursday
